Vega spacecraft encounters with comet Halley

Authors :: V. I. Shevchenko
J. E. Blamont
A. A. Galeev
R. Z. Sagdeev
K. Szegő
V. I. Moroz
V. D. Shapiro
Source :: Nature. 321:259-262
Publication Year :: 1986
Publisher :: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1986.
Abstract: The spacecraft Vega 1 and Vega 2 encountered comet Halley on 6 and 9 March 1986. Their scientific payload comprised 14 instruments, which collected data concerning the comet's optical characteristics, dust emission, and neutral gas, plasma and electromagnetic field environment. The main features of the encounters are described and highlights of the first scientific results are presented.